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Centre Parcs or Haven?

Have decided can't afford to go abroad this year so its a choice between Centre Parcs and Haven (Primrose Valley). OH wants Centre Parcs (Whinfell Forest) but I think its expensive and there won't be much to do with lo whereas at Primrose Valley its cheaper and we can go out to Scarborough, Filey and Bridlingon. x

We thought about this too and decided to go for Center Parcs. We've booked for September - I'm thinking we'll be able to go for some nice walks and there is meant to be lots of ducks and squirrels and things for LO to look at. Also the accommodation looked lots nicer. x

I have no experience of haven but CP is just fab! The pool has a fantastic children's area to play in & there are lots of nice walks you can do. If this is next year you can put LO in a trailer on your bikes... Bikes are a must! Lots of nice restaurants & the accommodation is very good. A girls activity to do on your own even is a session in the spa. The spa in Nottingham is the best I've been too & cheap. Also there is a soft play at some I believe etc etc.... It's lovely to be in the countryside with no traffic but people & things to do around you if you wish. There is nothing stopping you leaving the site & going somewhere local for a bit of variety.... Think I should join their marketing team!! Book well in advance for good deals. X

Another vote for CP here. I stayed at Primrose Valley while I was pregnant and although I had a nice time, I was not very impressed with how shabby and badly maintained some of the facilities had become. (I used to go with my parents when I was younger and had fond memories of the place) Maybe it's the extra attention you pay to cleanliness while you are pregnant, but I felt like everything needed a good scrub! The swimming facilities were always busy and I wouldn't want to take a really little one there as it's just too busy and a bit manky in places. The caravan we stayed in was nice, but was really close to three other ones, so much so that you could hear the man next door when he went to the toilet - not good when you are suffering with morning sickness!!! Also, it was noisy at night-time, with people shouting and arguing outside until gone 1 on one night, though I accept that this can happen anywhere.

By contrast, since DS was born (Apr 2011) we have been to CP three times (Sherwood x 1 and Whinfell x 2). The rooms have always been clean, there's much more to do and the facilities are much better looked after. My LO did his first ever swimming at Whinfell and each time we've been there have been more activities for him to do. Your LO will be probably too young for bikes, but walking and swimming are great and free and there are some good activites for young ones which aren't too expensive. We loves the pools which are lovely and warm and the complex at Whinfell has some nice quiet pools at the top where you and OH will be able to relax with LO without being worried about wave machines and excited kids!

The food at CP is good, granted, you pay a bit more than you would at home, but at Haven it was much more limited and the prices were extortionate! I can see how they can afford the cheap give-aways in the Sun with what they charge for everything else when you are there! The last timewe were at Whinfell it rained every day, but we never ran out of things to do, and there were millions of rabbits and squirrels which came to visit which we all loved. Also, bear in mind that when LO goes to bed, you are confined to the room. Last time at Whinfell we had a massive 3 bedroom comfort plus lodge (check these out as they are often as cheap or cheaper than 2 bedroom ones) which had plenty of room to allow us to relax and not be falling over prams/baby gyms/trikes etc.

I'm sure you'll have a brill holiday whatever you do. But if I was you I'd be seriously temped to let OH treat you to a day at the spa by way of compensation for "dragging you" to Center Parcs!!

Love love love Primrose Valley. Ive been to alot of Haven Holidays and PV is one of my faves. Pools good, its got a play park and does a baby club that you stay with lo at. You walk down a bank to the beach and a short walk along the beach is a lovely tiny village called Filey. Scarborough is good too.

Never been to Centre Parc so cant comment there. Would love to go and try it. But if I could afford there I may as well go abroad lol.

Hi,
We just got back from Bluestone Park in Pembroke, it was lovely! Just like centre parcs but smaller, and less busy, it was also cheaper when we went.

It's in a really nice location as well, 15-30 min drive to beaches, as well as all the usual stuff at the centre (good pool, adventure centre, lots of walks) we did a baby sensory class, but LO hated it!

There's also a spa if you get time to treat yourself (I recommend the hot stones massage ;) )

As others have said tho, it was hard work, as LO was teething, it just seemed harder away from home.

I am a massive haven fan love it, does help my parents have a van in Weymouth. They do early morning swims for young babies so u can do it when quiet if you want my lo loved it. He loved Rory and greedy when he meet them they was do gently with him didn't scare him. They got good clean vans now as they have checkers to check the vans are cleaned from top to bottom. I am comment on weymouth bay site never been to primrose valley do can't comment on there site, x

Not been to haven but we went to CP in April with LO and my 15 month old niece. It was great, swimming pool great and warm, lots and lots of walks, we hired bikes but LO was too young but after 6 months they can go in a trailer which is what were getting next time. There's lots of wildlife about, all restaurants are family friendly with lots of soft play areas. We went to sherwood and are going to elveden in September. My parents went to whinfell in march and said it was lovely, they preferred the pool up there to sherwood but said there was less walks

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